Friday, January 19, 2007

Coconut & cardamom candy (Burfi)

Cardamom is used as a spice commonly found in Indian and Scandinavian cuisines. To describe its taste is difficult, it is just one of a kind! But I'd think of floral, warmth, and an eucalyptus-alike aftertaste.
Our sweetheart Asha is sharing the joy of Sankranti (celebration of the beginning of Harvest season in her home country) with her burfi - milk and coconut-based confectionery. Please don't feel discouraged to try it simply because it's such an unfamiliar foreign name, to me it reminisces those coconut chocolate candies from See's. This burfi includes just enough of carrot to tint the morsels with a beautiful rosy color. I always think Indians very good at using colors... look at their gorgeous silk pashminas, purses embossed with tiny mirrors, sari, pashminas... oh did I just say pashminas again?!
Asha put her burfi in a bigger tray, then cut into smaller pieces later. If you have extra time, you may like to place the mixture into individual molds in the beginning, which I will describe in detail in the following.
This recipe is adopted from Asha's coconut-carrot burfi, courtesy of Asha from Foodie's Hope

Ingredients:

(yield 6 x 5cm cups and 8 x tiny hearts)

1 cup whole milk

1 cup coconut, if you plan to mold them, use desiccated type. Asha advised, if your coconut already sweetened, cut down the sugar as specified

1/2 cup grated carrot

1/4 white sugar + 1/4 demarara sugar

1 - 2 pinches of ground cardamom

1 tbp ghee

some almond flakes (and very fine ground almond for the molds)

Directions

In a small pot, bring the milk, coconut and carrot to boil, simmer until half liquid gone. Add sugars and simmer until all liquid evaporated. Add ghee and cardamom, well combine, turn off the heat

To make the mini-cup: you'll need a mini-tart tray. Well grease the molds, sprinkle little bit of ground almond. Press in the coconut mixture, and add more almond flakes on top. Keep them in refrigerator for an hour or two, unmold.

To make the heart: you'll need a mini cookie cutter, just fill up with coconut mixture, unmold. Drizzle with melt chocolate and decorate with sugar pearls.

Cardamom isn't something I usually cook with, but every now and then I just throw it in to see if I'll be able to notice a taste difference... I think I need to make something with a strictly cardamom taste.

Gattina,you are a genius!!Look at your Burfis girl!! Man,I am impressed!!Beautiful heart shape,perfect for Valentine's day.I have heart shaped mould but never thought of using to make Burfis.Very creative,Thank you so much for all the good things you said about India.We do LOVE colors!:DHave a great weekend sweetheart!:)

Gattina, I have seen this recipe before but did feel intimidated by it! These look beautiful and I agree with you on the color. About the cardamom pods, I don't think it is so expensive either. But the pods are bulkier and more time consuming if you are extracting the seeds.

Bella, I feel so torn when I read your blog. Sometimes I wish I could be your neighbor because I'd get to (hopefully) share in the amazing bounty from your kitchen...

and other times, like now, I'm quite glad that I'm not nearby, otherwise you'd probably have to call for help to have me forcibly removed from squishing my face to your kitchen window, begging for some of these treats!

u have a way of presenting desserts!I just sit and wonder how u set the photo!The extra cost in McCormick's powder is because of the labour involved in removing the seeds from the green pods and powdering. I use the greeen pods though!

What a creative and beautiful candy you've created. I haven't heard of this type of Indian sweet before, but it sounds fantastic. I didn't like cardomom for a long time, but now I do. Your pictures are really beautiful.

Those burfi are so adorable. I love the way you shaped and decorated them. You always put so much thought into everything you do! And the pictures are marvelous. I love the picture with it being held in those sweet hands.

I wasn't aware that cardamom was so expensive! I have green pods, but can't remember what I paid. I need to pay attention! :)

Wow Gattina ! You are killing me ! i dont like much sweets, but yours is looking so nice that i really wish to have it :) . very creative indeed. i love this heart shape and decoration of it , and also the nice orange color of burfi. really nice presentation . loved it. thanks for sharing -Pooja

My dearest friends, thanks for all your kind words! Sorry I couldn't reply to each of you promptly... I was busy in making many batches of soups which will be delivered to my relative tonight. But what a great joy to see you buddies around in these stressful days of mine!

Coconut and Cardamom Candy Looks mouth-watering and beautiful at the same time. One has to think twice before eating them, they are so perfectly dressed :). Can you please tell me where did you find those silver balls???